The program director and therapist- Hal Darst, has been working with adolescents in therapeutic settings since 1980, when working for Beech Hill / Outward Bound, where he was cross-trained as an addictions counselor and wilderness guide to provide drug and alcohol counseling to adolescents in a wilderness setting – such as hiking the Appalachian Trail or canoeing on the many New England lakes and rivers. It was the first program in the nation recognized to provide a uniquely powerful blend of therapy with nature. In the many years following he has worked with other prominent youth wilderness therapy programs including the Aspen Achievement Acadamy, the Catherine Freer Wilderness Therapy Program, and Ravens Way as well as with traditional outdoor education programs such as Hurricane Island Outward Bound and the Athenian Wilderness Experience.
While outdoor settings can be a powerful catalyst of emotional growth and development, Cascade Pathways